Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

How do I change the name of a file I am going to download ... before I download it ???

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

I have just had to reload FIREFOX ... loosing both my history/web addresses ... and it would appear also an automatic prompt before downloading a file!

Some files for downloading do not have clearly written titles ... Gzil_56565 for instance.

So when I clicked the file for downloading, the system would check if I still wanted to download the file with a pop-up ... in which I could type over the file's title with something more befitting ... like GODZILLA fights BAMBI.

At the moment ... the files load with their odd titles ... and I am wasting time having to review them and rename!

Many thanks

Jon (UK)

I have just had to reload FIREFOX ... loosing both my history/web addresses ... and it would appear also an automatic prompt before downloading a file! Some files for downloading do not have clearly written titles ... Gzil_56565 for instance. So when I clicked the file for downloading, the system would check if I still wanted to download the file with a pop-up ... in which I could type over the file's title with something more befitting ... like GODZILLA fights BAMBI. At the moment ... the files load with their odd titles ... and I am wasting time having to review them and rename! Many thanks Jon (UK)

All Replies (3)

more options

Right-click the link and select Save As

more options

Hi Jon, could you check this setting on the Options/Preferences page:

  • Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options
  • Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences
  • Linux: "3-bar" menu button (or Edit menu) > Preferences
  • Any system: type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it

Scroll down a bit to the Files and Applications section, and look at Downloads. I think here you want to switch from "Save files to" to "Always ask you where to save files":

more options

Note that Firefox immediately starts downloading the file in the background and saves the .part file to the OS TEMP folder and doesn't wait until you specify the name and the location (destination folder).
If the file stays in the temp folder then it is possible that your security software is blocking the file and prevents Firefox from moving the file to the specified destination folder and rename the file to the correct file extension.
You can try to disable security software temporarily to see if that makes a difference.